China opens up more by allowing fully foreign-owned hospitals in 9 trial regions

China's recent move to allow the establishment of wholly owned foreign hospitals in nine regions is primarily aimed at providing diversified medical services for both foreigners living in the nation and Chinese people, the authorities said on Nov 29.

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A statement on the official website of the National Health Commission said the nine regions will import high-level medical resources, enrich domestic medical services and see an enhanced business environment. It also added that a string of rules and regulations will be implemented to supervise wholly owned foreign hospitals.

China announced in early September that it would permit wholly owned foreign hospitals to be set up in nine trial regions as part of efforts to widen opening-up in the healthcare sector.

The nine regions are Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Fuzhou in Fujian province, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, and the whole island of Hainan.

In an action plan published on Nov 30, the commission, along with the Ministry of Commerce, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, sets out conditions, requirements and procedures for establishing such hospitals.